News List

Aug. 8, 2014
Here is the latest edition of Week In Review - a series of weekly messages from the Mayor and City Council to help Richardson residents and businesses keep up to date on events at City Hall.

Council Sets Public Hearings for Tax Rate and Budget
The City Council will hold two public hearings on the proposed tax rate and one public hearing on the proposed 2014-2015 budget in August. On Monday, the Council approved Aug. 18 and 25 as dates for the public hearings on the tax rate and Aug. 25 for a public hearing on the budget.

The proposed tax rate is $.63516 per $100 of assessed home value, which is unchanged from the current rate. The proposed budget was released today and is available to view online at cor.net/budget. A printed copy is available to view in the City Secretary's office, Room 202 at City Hall, and at the Library.

Watch Budget Retreat Through Sunday
The City Council held an in-depth discussion of the 2014-15 budget at its annual budget retreat last month at the Richardson Woman’s Club. The retreat is available to view on-demand at cor.net, and replays will be broadcast on the City's cable access channel through Sunday.

For more information about the 2014-15 Fiscal Year Budget, visit cor.net/budget.

City Accepting Applications for Charter Review CommissionThe City is accepting applications for the Charter Review Commission through Sept. 1. The commission will be appointed by the City Council in September and October and is expected to meet twice a month for six to nine months to examine the City Charter and recommend changes, if necessary.

Applicants should be able to commit the required volunteer time for board service as well as show an interest in the specific workings of the commission. Board members must be qualified voters of the City who have been residents of Texas for at least one year and residents of the City for at least six months, hold no elected public office and are not in arrears in taxes or other liability due to the City.

All applicants are asked to confirm online submissions with the City Secretary’s Office by calling 972-744-4292.

Learn more and download an application here. Watch a City Council work session discussion about the Charter Review Commission at bit.ly/1l9A118.

NNO Block Party Registration is Open

Block party registration has begun for National Night Out, an annual event set for Tuesday, Oct. 7, designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, support anticrime programs and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. Last year Richardson police officers and firefighters visited more than 190 registered block parties in the city.

Download a block party registration form online at richardsonpolice.net or pick up a hard copy at the Richardson Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit. Learn more about National Night Out at cor.net/police.

City Council Approves Economic Development Incentive for Raytheon

The City Council on Monday approved an Economic Development Incentive Agreement for Raytheon, which broke ground on its new $130 million facility last month. Raytheon is expected to generate $13 million in direct and indirect revenue for the City over 10 years and employ 1,700 people making an average of $126,000 annually. The agreement provides a 50 percent rebate on business personal property tax for 10 years and waives building permit fees.

Raytheon’s new offices at CityLine will house the company’s Intelligence, Information and Services division. The 489,000 square foot campus will include three buildings and is expected to be open for business in 2015.

Watch a work session presentation about the Economic Development Incentive Agreement at bit.ly/1zRKibk.

Pools Close for Season Sunday; Family Aquatic Center Still Open
Canyon Creek, Cottonwood, Glenville and Terrace pools will close for the year after regular hours Sunday. Heights Family Aquatic Center will remain open for extended days.
Click here for pool hours of operation and locations.

Heights Family Aquatic Center operating dates and hours:

Dates

Hours

Monday, Aug. 11 to Friday, Aug. 15

10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 16 and Sunday, Aug. 17

Noon to 9 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 18 to Friday, Aug. 22

1-8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 23 and Sunday, Aug. 24

Noon to 9 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 30 and Sunday, Aug. 31

Noon to 9 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 1

10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Council Awards Contract for Street, Alley Improvements
Construction will soon begin on a new project to reconstruct alleys and streets in the Richardson Heights area, one of several street rehabilitation projects included in the 2010 Bond Program. On Monday, the City Council awarded a construction contract of nearly $1.8 million to reconstruct Northill Drive and Ridgedale Drive west of Floyd Road and the alleys adjacent to Ridgedale Drive. The project will replace the existing roads and alleys with new concrete, widen the alleys and install new water and sewer lines.

The construction schedule is being coordinated with the contractor with the start of work anticipated to begin as soon as franchise utility relocations are completed in the work area. Residents in the area will be notified prior to the start of construction, which is expected to last about eight months.

Corporate Challenge Continues to Grow
Richardson’s Corporate Challenge keeps growing, with 53 teams from 55 companies getting ready to compete in the 10-week, Olympic-style event that launches Aug. 15 with the Opening Ceremony. For the first time, organizers were forced to turn companies away, because the roster was at capacity.

More than 12,000 participants will compete in 22 events – which include everything from flag football to dominoes – at various facilities in and around Richardson. Teams play for points and medals in all sports in six divisions based on the size of the company. New teams this year are from Service King, Slalom Consulting, Maxim Integrated, FireHost, VCE, Associated Air Centers and Nerium.

In its 16-year history, Corporate Challenge has donated $1.4 million to Special Olympics Texas, with a portion of the funds going to the local Richardson Roadrunners team. On Monday, Special Olympics Texas presented the City Council an award for being the organization’s only platinum sponsor in 2013 by raising more than $15,000. Corporate Challenge raised about $184,000 in 2013, and organizers are hoping to top that total this year.

Learn more about Corporate Challenge and check out a complete schedule of events online at cor.net/cc. Watch a City Council work session presentation about this year’s event at bit.ly/1ozpaT7.

Sales Tax Holiday This Weekend
The annual tax-free shopping weekend is today through Sunday. Sales tax will not be charged on clothing, footwear, school-related backpacks and school supplies sold through midnight Sunday.

The exemption applies to each article of clothing, footwear, backpack or supply sold for less than $100, regardless of how many items are purchased. The sales tax holiday does not include sales of special clothing and footwear normally worn only for athletic activities or for protection.

Tax will be due on sales of accessories, including jewelry, handbags, purses, briefcases, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches and similar items. Clothing and shoe rentals will also continue to be subject to state and local sales or use tax.

Backpacks for students are exempt from sales tax during this period. Even backpacks with wheels qualify as long as they can also be worn on the back in the traditional manner.

Watch a Public Service Announcement here. For more information, contact the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts at 800-252-5555 or visit TexasTaxHoliday.org.

Library Closed Next Friday
Due to a staff development day, the Richardson Library will be closed Friday, Aug. 15. The Library will reopen at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16.

Zoofari, Book Discussions at Library This Week

The Richardson Public Library will host several free events this week, beginning with a Back to School Zoofari from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday in the Basement Program Room. The event is for children age 5 and older. A free ticket is required to attend and may be picked up in the Youth Services Department on a first-come first-served basis beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.

On Tuesday, the Library will host a Lunchtime Lecture on Collecting REAL Books from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Basement Program Room. Attendees will learn how to determine if older books are of value. For more information, call 972-744-4376.

The Library will host a Book Discussion on Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Coffee will be served beginning at 7 p.m. Registration is not required. For more information, call 972-744-4350.

Menopause the Musical at Eisemann Center
“Menopause the Musical” is continuing its run at the Eisemann Center through Aug. 24. The award-winning show is a celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of, or have survived “the change.” Tickets cost $41.50 to $46.50 and may be purchased by calling 972-744-4650 or visiting eisemanncenter.com. For more information, visit MenopauseTheMusical.com.

Career Expo at Civic Center Aug. 12The Dallas Morning News and monster.com are presenting a Career Expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Richardson Civic Center. The free event will include opportunities in sales, restaurant management, hourly positions and more. Free resume critiques will be available from 11 a.m. to noon followed by a free seminar at 1 p.m. on “Prepare Your Resume to Present Yourself to Your Best Advantage.” For more information, visit expoexpertsllc.com.

Lone Star Mint Show at Civic Center Aug. 15-17The Lone Star Mint will hold a coin show from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17; at the Richardson Civic Center. The free event will feature more than 50 dealers from several states and provide opportunities to buy, sell and trade. The show will also include free appraisals, door prizes and coin supplies. For more information, visit lsmint.com/LSMCoinShow.html.

RALC Tutor Training Aug. 16

The Richardson Adult Literacy Center is holding a training workshop for ESL tutors. The class is designed to train volunteer tutors who can then help others learn to speak English. Training will take place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16 at the Richardson Public Library.

Registration is required by Aug. 14. To learn more or register, call 972-644-5119 or e-mail director@ralc.org.

Dog Splash Day is Aug. 16

The annual Dog Splash Day will take place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16 at Terrace Pool, 300 N. Lois Lane.

Admission is $5 per dog. No pre-registration is required, and dogs must have a current rabies vaccination to enter. The event is sponsored by Richardson AnimaLuv, which supports the Richardson Animal Shelter.

Richardson Animal Shelter Pet of the Week
This is Norman, he was brought to the Shelter in May as a stray. Norman is a terrier mix, has been neutered, is about a year old and current on all his vaccinations. He gets along with some dogs, is a bouncy medium sized dog that is full of energy and loves to play fetch.